David Higgins crowned an all-conquering year on the Irish PGA Tour by capturing the PGA Championship at Mount Juliet.

He beat Noel Murray (22) from Massereene by birdieing the third play-off hole (the par-five 17th) with an immaculate pitch from 87 yards to two feet. Kilkenny native Gary Murphy also made the sudden-death play-off with all three finishing on seven-under-par for the reduced 54-hole event.

After Murphy dropped out on the first, the pair then halved the second (18th) in par and returned to the 17th where Murray made a marvellous attempt at birdie, his sand shot rimming the hole.

The 39-year-old winner, whose father, Liam, lifted the trophy in 1983, said: "I remember looking at trophy as a young lad and saying it would be lovely to win it. I tried for a long time to win it and did it today and I'm just delighted."